"Shhhh, it's all right, little one." She puts a hand on his cheek and pulls back just enough to catch his wet eyes with her own, brimming with unshed tears of relief and joy. It's been more than a year, then, if he's speaking of last year's Obon festival.

"Kubo, do you think I would blame you for the rain?" She gently wipes a tear off his cheek with her thumb. "You don't need to apologize for things you can't control." She lets out a shaky breath, drinking him in. "Look at you. You made it home, then? You're safe?"